The Washington Nationals complete the four-game sweep of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLCS to become the 2019 National League champions. They earn their first trip to the World Series in franchise history.
How they Won Game 4
The Nationals offense put the game to bed in the first inning, as they busted out for seven runs. Trea Turner had two hits in the inning. RBI’s from Anthony Rendon, Juan Soto, and Victor Robles had the Nationals up 3-0. Then Yan Gomes’ two-run single chased Dakota Hudson out of the game with just one out recorded.
Turner added another two runs with a single to cap a seven-run first inning. From there Patrick Corbin struck out 12 batters. And while the Cardinals chipped away with four runs on Corbin, the Nationals bullpen, shut the door. They blanked the Cardinals the final four innings.
Daniel Hudson, who welcomed his third child before Game 1 of the series, closed the game to lift the Nationals to the World Series.
How This Moment Came About
A team that started 19-31 with calls for their manager to be fired. Now, they are headed to the World Series, as the Nationals turned their season around, going 57-28 through a stretch and ultimately won 93 games.
They won their first ever NL Wild Card game, rallying to beat the Milwaukee Brewers after being down 3-1. They then upset the Los Angeles Dodgers to advance past the NLDS for the first time in franchise history. They then steamrolled the Cardinals in a four-game sweep where they outscored St. Louis 20-5 in the series.
Nationals Starters Dominated
Anibal Sanchez set the tone with 7 2/3 scoreless innings, allowing one hit in Game 1. Then, Max Scherzer allowed one hit in seven shutout innings in Game 2. Stephen Strasburg allowed one unearned run through a marvelous seven in which he struck out 12 in Game 3. And Corbin closed the door, striking out 12 in five innings.
The Nationals allowed just four earned runs in 26 2/3 innings in the series.
